Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are to receive a greater slice of NSW Departments and Agencies’ information and communications technology (ICT) procurement spends, following the State’s acceptance of a suite of recommendations from its ICT and Digital Sovereign Procurement Taskforce.
Minister for Customer Service, Victor Dominello said the recommendations included measures to benefit start-ups, Aboriginal-owned, disability and regional enterprises.
Mr Dominello said the spend targets, which are to come into effect from 1 April, included 30 per cent of ICT procurement Addressable Spend (excluding labour) must be spent directly with SMEs as would 5 per cent of indirect ICT procurement Addressable Spend in procurements valued above $3 million.
“NSW is the most digitally advanced jurisdiction in Australia, thanks in large part to the experience and expertise of our local ICT industry,” Mr Dominello said.
“Demand for technology solutions is only going to increase and the tech workforce is only going to get bigger, and we want SMEs to remain at the forefront,” he said.
Mr Dominello said the changes recognised the pivotal role SMEs could play in the State’s recovery from bushfires and the pandemic.
Minister for Finance and Small Business, Damien Tudehope said the ICT procurement changes would open up more opportunities for SMEs.
“This is all about making it easier for SMEs in the ICT sector to do business with government, as well as supporting the economic conditions to ensure NSW remains at the cutting edge of innovation and technology,” Mr Tudehope said.
